Amerie

"It sounds like a cliché, but I always knew I was going to sing. I always knew that music was what I was going to do." -Amerie

After her first hip-hop club single "Why Don't We Fall in Love" rivaled top artists such as Ja Rule and Usher for radio play supremacy, Amerie's debut album All I Have has become the hottest commodity for DJs, record stores and scores of fans.

SEX APPEAL

Being half-black and half-Asian fulfills many men's desires for some ethnic flava. Amerie has a bad-girl face to go along with an aura of schoolgirl innocence. Chocolate brown skin, a naughty Korean face and more curves than a mountain road make Amerie one desirable chick.

SUCCESS

Although her first album was only released in late July 2002, it is surprising that Amerie has made a name for herself in just a short while. When her record company, Colombia, released the first single, "Why Don't We Fall in Love" off of All I Have in late April 2002, it immediately rose to prominence on music television and the radio.

She also worked with famed rapper Nas on the track "Rule" for his album, Stillmatic. Promoting her album even further, she joined Nas and Usher on the Evolution Tour in May 2002. Too early to receive word on the number of sales Amerie has raked in, many have predicted platinum-like numbers for her debut record.

Amerie Biography

Born into a military family, Amerie's dad, a native of Philadelphia, and her mother, from Korea, were forced to move around the world. They lived with young Amerie (pronounced A-Marie) in Alaska, Germany, Virginia, and finally Washington D.C. As she settled into a new hometown, the first place that had some semblance of permanence, her dream of singing was able to take shape.

not only a singer, but a hoya too

While seriously looking for her place in the music business, Amerie enrolled and was accepted to Georgetown University. As she studied English and Fine Arts, a friend introduced her to Rich Harrison, a renowned producer and native of D.C. Oddly enough, the first meeting between the two occurred in the parking lot of a McDonald's restaurant. Harrison's beats and Amerie's voice blended extremely well and after a few months of working together, a demo was made. When Columbia executives heard Amerie, they immediately offered her a record deal.

working with nas and usher

While making the tracks for All I Have, Amerie hooked up with fellow Columbia rap stars Nas and Royce Da 5'9". Those collaborations gave fans a taste of what was to come. Blending edgy beats with her melodic voice, Harrison produced an album that combined unique and traditional elements of jazz, soul, hip-hop, and R&B.

Ever since Columbia released "Why Don't We Fall in Love" in late April 2002, Amerie has been caught up in a promotional whirlwind. As the single became popular in clubs and on the radio, Amerie began flying around the US to perform in Usher's Evolution Tour in May, in addition to doing interviews and shooting her first music video in Los Angeles.

much more to come

When All I Have was finally released on July 30th, 2002, the anticipation was huge. Accolades came from all over: the album is well-rounded and unique, with an R&B flavor that will attract a wide audience. Amerie's range of tastes that are showcased on her album can be attributed to her parents: her father owned an extensive soul collection and her mother trained her in classical music and culture as a singer, painter and pianist.

The next year should be filled with a multitude of releases from Amerie's debut album. As her popularity grows, we only hope she will maintain this high standard and become a constant force and an R&B diva. She has the looks, talent and potential to hang around the music industry for a long time.